Ski Legend Lindsey Vonn Vows Olympics Comeback After Crash

Just one week before the Winter Olympics opening ceremony, 41-year-old skiing legend Lindsey Vonn crashed in Switzerland but refused to give up on her Olympic dream.

Vonn lost control while landing a jump during a World Cup downhill race in Crans-Montana on Friday, spinning into the safety nets and injuring her left knee. After receiving medical attention on the course for about five minutes, she slowly skied to the finish line, stopping several times to clutch her knee.

"This is a very difficult outcome one week before the Olympics, but if there's one thing I know how to do, it's a comeback," Vonn wrote on Instagram hours after being airlifted from the course. "My Olympic dream is not over."

The timing couldn't be tougher. Vonn's first Olympic race, the women's downhill, is scheduled for February 8 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, where she holds the record with 12 World Cup wins.

The crash happened in difficult conditions with poor visibility and falling snow. Race officials cancelled the event after Vonn's accident, which followed two other crashes that morning.

Why This Inspires

Vonn's determination shines even brighter when you know her story. She made a stunning return to competitive skiing last season at age 40 after nearly six years away from the sport, racing with a partial titanium implant in her right knee.

This season, she's been unstoppable. Vonn won two downhill races and finished on the podium in seven of her eight World Cup events, with her worst finish being fourth place.

She's no stranger to crashes or comebacks. After a devastating accident at the 2013 world championships that tore apart her right knee, Vonn fought her way back only to get injured again and miss the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Now she's consulting with her medical team and undergoing exams to determine if competing in Milan Cortina is possible. She was expected to race in the downhill, super-G, and the new team combined event.

International Ski and Snowboard Federation CEO Urs Lehmann spoke with Vonn after the crash but said everyone needs to wait for the doctors' assessment. Her teammate Jacqueline Wiles, who was leading when the race was cancelled, shared a long embrace with Vonn before she was airlifted away.

For someone who's already defied the odds by returning to elite competition at 41, one more week might be just enough time for another comeback.